What to do in and around Babbacombe,

Torquay and South Devon

On Foot........

Where do we start? There is so much you can walk to and enjoy. If you walk too far you can always hop on a bus which will bring you back to Babbacombe for a very reasonable fee! Many of our guests abandon their cars in favour of a day or weekly ‘rover ticket’. Very reasonable in price and it will give you unlimited travel around the bay including Brixham and Dartmouth. Save a fortune on car parking fees and let the driver take the strain!

Walk to Babbacombe Beach, have a drink or a meal in The Cary Arms and walk along to Oddicombe Beach where the Cliff Railway will bring you back to the Downs. Stroll along The Downs and sit and enjoy the views on one of the many public benches. (As many past generations have!)  A word about the Cliff Railway.... This has been operating since 1926, only being closed in the war years. Dads army hadn’t got the resourses to cover it despite Corporal Jones volunteering!!! The track gently slopes down from The Downs to the sea and Oddicombe beach 240 feet below on a track 720 feet long. It carries more than 250,00 passengers each season but thankfully not all at the same time! The four cables will each hold 20 tons so plenty of holding power for the two five ton carriage which travel at 500ft per minute.

Wander up to the pedestianised St Marychurch precinct where there are many interesting shops, churches and eating places.

Through Tessier Gardens and into Cary Park. Tessier Gardens is a very special and peaceful garden with children and animal restrictions. Closed at night.

Walk the cliff paths one way to Petitor Beach and on to the beaches of Watcombe and Maidencombe and the other way to Torquay via Ansteys Cove. There are 1000 kilometres of coastal paths in the South West!  You should at least take a look! Visit www.nationaltrail.co.uk Torquay will take you a couple of pleasant hours following which the bus may become a very appealing means of return travel.

Whilst in Torquay, take a look at the harbour which in 2003 had a sill fitted to keep the water in. No more smelly mud and boats lying on their sides waiting for the next tide. Also ‘Living Coasts’ , Paignton Zoo’s new visitor attraction. Seals, penguins, Sea Ducks, Puffins, and waders on display above and below the water.

Attractions on foot include the world famous Babbacombe Model Village, a masterpiece in miniaturisation since 1963. Return in the evening with the same ticket for a different perspective and laser show. Bygones the Victorian Museum in St. Marychurch which brings the past alive. Nostalgia for all the family. I can verify that the kids will really enjoy the World War 1 trenchesand the large model railway. Even the real train engine!

Kents Caves in Wellswood. Another of Devons top attractions on the doorstep. 386 million years of history. Stalactites and stalagmites.... bones and artefacts and a new visitor centre. Visit www.kents-cavern.co.uk 

By Car or bus.......

I have already mentioned the excellent bus service available. This will take you virtually anywhere in Torquay, Paignton, Brixham and Dartmouth. Excellent way to travel especially if you are on the open top double decker!

Dartmoor is only a 30 minute drive away. Head for Newton Abbot and then pick up the signs for Ashburton. Dartmoor is on the right of the A38 driving west between Plymouth and Exeter. Look at your map and take your choice. Widdicombe, Dartmeet, Two Bridges, Princetown, Tavistock to name but a few places worth a visit.

Bovey Tracey is a pretty place to visit and is also a gateway to the moor. Lots of places to eat and explore.
Visit The House of Marbles and The Cardew Teapot Factory as you pass. It really is worth it and is Rita's favourite.

Shaldon and Teignmouth is only five miles away. Both are on the coast and estuary of the River Teign. Follow the estuary paths on foot if you wish. This will "eventually" take you to Newton Abbot! The Coombe Cellars (pub) is on the way and worth a visit for a meal or drink in wonderful surroundings. Alternatively follow the estuary by car to Coombe Cellars. Visit the villages of Stoke and Coombe in Teignhead. A lovely part of old Devon.

Totnes is only half an hour away. Well worth a visit. There are a number of markets and craft fairs during the week and you can catch a ferry down to Dartmouth or just walk along the banks of the River Dart.  Go via Berry Pomeroy and visit the 'Haunted Castle'.

Dartmouth and Kingswear with the car and passenger ferries between. Need I say more? Steeped in history with the Royal Naval College looking down over the whole area. This is where much of the 'Onedin Line’  filming took place with the tall mast ships of yesteryear. (For those old enough to remember!)

Take a boat trip up the River Dart to Totnes and back. Excellent!! Kingswear can be reached by bus from Babbacombe (Change at the harbour.) so no parking problems. Hop on the foot ferry across to Dartmouth. ( The current price of an all day bus ticket to take you anywhere within Torbay is only £3.50! It can cost £1.00 just to go to the harbour return so for and extra £2.50 you can visit Brixham and Dartmouth.. infact as much as you can pack in!

Brixham can be visited by car or bus, or by The western Lady from Torquay Harbour. Dolphins sometimes swim along side. Brixham is a very typical fishing port. Plenty to do and walk around the harbour and marina. Excellent fish restauants.

The Round Robin Trip which takes you from Paignton to Kingswear by steam train, up the Dart to Totnes by boat and then back to Torbay by bus. A wonderful day out. Break your journey anywhere along the route or do it in reverse!

Buckfast and Buckfastleigh, only half an hour away gives access to a large steam railway, a butterfly and otter park and Buckfast Abbey. All this as well as being the gateway to the Moors! The steam railway runs from Buckfastleigh to Totnes alongside the river dart. See the leaflet.

The South Hams area, Totnes, Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Slapton etc etc is a wonderful area. When the sun shines on Salcombe it is difficult to imagine a more pleasant place in the whole world. ( Yes you guessed. I like Salcombe!)

Haunted Bowden House, just the other side of Totnes and only ten miles from Torbay. (Ghost Guides in 18th, Century costumes.)

Back on the moors, The River Dart Country Park is only the other side of Ashburton. Designed for children with parents in mind.

Visit Canonteign Falls for a magical combination of waterfalls, woodlands and lakes. "Leave only footprints and take only photographs." Not far from Bovey Tracey. See the leaflet for directions. And don't forget Becky Falls

Don't forget Paignton Zoo. It has had a serious face-lift of late which will give you a full day out. Lots to do and see.

Plymouth is only forty five minutes away through Totnes so a day trip is extremely easy. Visit the Barbican and The Hoe. See the leaflet for Plymouth Dome and Smeatons Tower and enjoy a futuristic journey through the past.

Add another half hour to your journey and you are in Looe and Polperro. Probably as nice a part of Cornwall as there is. (That's Cornish if you like!)

East Devon... Drive up to Granada Services at the start of the M5 and turn off for Exmouth and Sidmouth. Of particular interest are Sidmouth, a beautiful sea side town, popular for retirement. (Where the old folk take there parents!) Take care on pension day. Beautiful cars from a previous time zone with only a few hundred miles on the clock come out of their garages to get to the Post office!)

Move on to Branscombe, the second longest village in the UK and Beer a very attractive fishing village with the boats pulled up onto the beach. Seaton is a little further on and then Lyme Regis. That is the coastline you see when you look across the bay from Headland View.

Dawlish to see the Black Swans and a pleasant little sea side town. The swans recently had young but the floods caused mayhem for them. They have been in the town for many years so hopefully they will remain, despite the floods!!! Thanks to John and Ann for the info and picture

The Roman city of Exeter with good shops and and underground tours is only a half hour away by car. (Walking takes a little longer!)

Not wanting to drive you out of beautifull South Devon, but do you know you can visit Lynton & Lynmouth, and Clovelly in under two hours? A number of our guests do.

Whether to finish this folder or to end your day on a perfect note, we cannot fail to mention Cockington as one of the most picturesque villages in Devonshire. With its thatched cottages and horse drawn taxi's, it just shouldn't be missed. Walk around the grounds of the manor house and visit the Drum for a drink, or a pub lunch, or maybe one of the tea rooms for a cream tea.

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